Studying this programme, students will be equipped with the skills for a multi-media career in journalism or communications.
Students in this programme will develop news sourcing, writing, and publishing skills; as well as technical skills in photography and videography. Students will put these skills into practice publishing regularly in the Wintec online newspaper, The Waikato Independent, and through projects with industry.
Additionally, students who complete the New Zealand Diploma in Journalism can gain entry to year two of the Bachelor of Communication if they wish to further their studies.
| Module Code | Module name | Level | Credits | Pre-Requisites | Co-Requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOUR501 | News storytelling | 5 | 30 | ||
| JOUR502 | Advanced storytelling | 5 | 15 | ||
| JOUR503 | Technical skills 1: online | 5 | 15 | ||
| JOUR504 | Technical skills 2: multimedia | 5 | 30 | ||
| JOUR505 | Media law and context | 5 | 15 | ||
| JOUR506 | Professional practice | 5 | 15 |
Wintec journalism students succeed at a national level. They have been finalists in the Student Journalist of the Year category in the Voyager Media Awards every year since 2012, winning four times in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Alumni also regularly feature as award finalists and winners. The strength and quality of student portfolios is a feature of the journalism programme at Wintec.
Students will gain real world experience sourcing, writing and publishing stories on our online newspaper The Waikato Independent, as well as pitching stories for our industry partners in community, regional and daily papers. This includes reporting for an annual publication for New Zealand National Fieldays, simulated media training exercises, and a sustained newsroom project.
Wintec's diploma programme has been developed in close consultation with the industry. Academic tutors have a wealth of professional experience, and students will be inspired by guest speakers (including judges, politicians and police) to write real life stories. Our strong relationships with editors ensure that all Wintec students are placed in newsrooms during their course and graduates have a high employment success rate.
Every year a highly-regarded industry specialist acts as Editor In Residence. They teach and act as a mentor to students. Industry tutors from several different media companies also teach on the programme in specialist areas, bringing a wealth of first hand experience and contacts.
Graduates will be qualified for entry level positions in the media and communications industries.
Graduates of this programme may transition into degree programmes at Wintec such as the Bachelor of Communication.
You can apply for this programme if you meet one of the below options.
Based on your school achievement (secondary school study)
Based on study completed after school (tertiary study)
Based on discretionary entrance
If you don’t meet any of the above options, and you think you have what it takes to complete this programme, you can apply for discretionary entrance. Your application may be accepted if you can demonstrate a good chance of success. Approval of discretionary entrance applications is decided by the relevant manager. If your application is approved, your acceptance into further programmes relies on you demonstrating success in this programme.
Selection criteria
An interview is required for admission to the course and applicants may be required to show evidence of written work.
English language requirements
Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.0 with no band lower than 5.5; or equivalent.
To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.
Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.
The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.
Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus
The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.
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